Requesting Help Understanding Joints/TieRods/GreasePoints
 

I am having issues with my grease points/tie rods/ball joints, and I have more questions than answers. I'm hoping people here can help.

Basically, it seems like all of my tie rod ends have burst. And also the grease points on the wheels themselves maybe. *Maybe*. So much I don't get. So here are my questions:


- Should grease ever leak out of a tie rod end? If so, from where? Or maybe not, and leaking grease indicates that the rubber boot is torn?

- If grease shouldn't leak out, why do you ever need to regrease them?

- How do I know if I should replace a ball joint/boot/grease point thingy?

- What do you call the grease point/joint/thingy on the wheel itself? Not the inner or outer tie rod end, but above the wheel bearing, there is another grease point and I don't know what this is called, or whether I need to replace it because the rubber boot seems to be leaking grease.

Thank you.

the grease should be contained within the boots preferably

If they are torn, damaged or worn out, they let road grit in

ball type joints wear out..you need to remove them to replace the boots, most people would replace the whole joint instead of the boot

I think you may be refering to the brake bleed nipple, located on the brake caliper, its not a grease point

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d4855e4a82.jpg

yes it is very common to find grease seeping out from under the rubber boots. that means the owner has been keeping it greased. when greasing, that's how you tell you have new grease filling the boots, it will push out the old dirty grease. usually we would wipe that grease off, but many don't.

you want to feel the joints for any up/down play or slop. rotational play, say in the tie rod ends, is normal, but up/down means it's worn out. same as ball joints (up/down), and track bar.

grease at least every two weeks/month, if you wheel often and in/out of water/mud. best to keep clean, new grease in those joints. and yeah, don't grease your brake bleed nipples. lol

Pretty sure your talking about the grease zerk on the top ball joint

Yeah, the upper ball joints generally have fittings, but the lower ones don't because the drive axles don't leave enough room for them. A 2wd jeep will have lower ball joint grease fittings.